"That is not the truth," remarked Mr. Forde.
"And if I did know where she was, sir," continued Esther, "I should not give her address to you or any one else without her permission."
"You are all a pack of thieves and swindlers together," observed Mr. Forde; including, with a comprehensive glance, Meadows and the two men and Esther, in the statement levelled against the Mortomley establishment; "and I don't know that I ought not to give you all in charge for conspiracy. I will send for a policeman, and see if he cannot induce some of you to find your tongues."
"I wish you would hold yours for a while," interposed Kleinwort. "Fact is, my good peoples, we want to see that dear, distressed Mrs. Mortomley, and do much good to her and that poor invalid husband, and after a day or two it will be too late by far. You come with me," he added, addressing Turner; "you, I see, have brains and can understand; let me talk with you."
And so he and Turner walked into the conservatory.
"I will give you one—two—dree—foar—five gold pounds, if you get me the place where to find our little lady," he remarked.
But Turner shook his head.
"I can't get it for you," he said.